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The secret for forming a fully-spread, loose overbody for flies like the Deep Sparkle Pupa and the Emergent Sparkle Pupa, is combing out the plies of yarn before tying them down. You could tease the fibers apart with a scissors' point or dubbing needle, but after spending 10 minutes per fly (and still not getting complete separation), you'll be looking for a fine-toothed comb.

We've created a great small, metal comb for the job. It will separate the yarn with a few quick whisks.

We get letters:

"Gary, the new 'small comb' is fabulous. By what possible manufacturing process did you get such fine definition with the teeth on it?"
— Todd Fretheim, New Mexico

"Dear Todd: That manufacturing process is a miracle. Tom Trozera has invented a method of laying a photo image down on metal and etching away all other areas of the pattern with acid. He invented this process for heart stints (creating a stronger, smoother, and less expensive stint). Tom, my fly fishing friend, let us use this patented method to create the Small Metal Comb. The comb is perfect for teasing out the yarn for tying the Deep and Emergent Sparkle Pupa patterns. Of course, it has many other uses on the fly tying table."
— Gary LaFontaine

We get e-mail:

"I have to say that the fine-toothed-comb is extremely useful, and not just for Antron, working really well on rabbit feet and short fine fur. The underfur from rabbit feet (snowshoe variety) works like touch dubbing for those days when I'm feeling organic."
— e-mail from Henry and Joan

We feature a larger, heavier metal-tooth comb for clearing the under-fuzz on deer hair, cleaning loose hairs from fur pieces, and combing out more than one ply of yarn.